I don't understand this comment in the OP: And ya know what? We all let it happen, thinking that the combining of all these big airlines and hotel programs is a good thing and that they will "enhance" their systems to "make it all easier" for us!
Who exactly is "we?" If you mean "we" the consumers or "we" the FlyerTalkers, I think there is virtually nothing "we" could have done to stop the merger/acquisition. Unless of course "we" had enough gazillions of dollars to put up a bid ourselves, or unless "we" already owned, say, a controlling interest ourselves. Our opinions on the matter probably had little if any influence on the decision-makers in these (formerly) two companies.